Howard Power Steering System
Last November (2012) my Howard Power Steering System’s hydraulic cylinder blew a seal and lost fluid. The owner and inventor of the HPS System passed away several years ago and the company folded with about 9 patents on the equipment with no parts or knowledge on paper available to continue servicing unit. Since then, supposedly there have been numerous attempts by RVers to have blown hydraulic cylinders rebuilt at considerable cost, but to no avail.
In March 2013, I was able to get a lead on a successful rebuild of a HPS cylinder and followed it up with a Louisiana RV Man in Sulphur, LA. Made contact with him and found that he had a HPS cylinder rebuilt with seals off the shelf and it blew out again. A second attempt involved upgraded custom seals and everything was still good after 7 months and three reasonably long trips.
That was good enough for me to make contact with the hydraulic shop to talk about it. The owner had been in the hydraulic business for some 25 years for all types of cylinders including heavy equipment and expressed confidence in being able to get the job done. I took my HPS cylinder to Sulphur the first part of April for the rebuild that would take 4 to 6 weeks. Just received a call today (May 13) that it was ready for pickup and that there were no problems in getting the job done. In fact it was indicated that the custom seals used on the successful cylinder repair were improved on.
So I will pick it up sometime this week and hopefully re-install within the next couple of weeks. For your information, the next phase is called “Self Service.” There are a few tricks of the trade for removal and re-installation that are documented based on personal experiences of two “Do It Yourselfers.”
Will keep progress posted here as there is at least one other WesTexer who has the same problem.
I have had the HPS System since 2005 and love the way it tracks. Here is hoping it works!!!!!
Dan Ives
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i’m really curious. Did you get your steering system working?
Jalli ????- Just now saw this (2-17-14)….Got HPSS Unit fixed and it is still working great after my 5,000 mile road test…….
More info please; Name of shop, phone # etc.. I love my HPCS and hate to think about losing it… Yours is the first post that has given me hope.
Did your rebuild of the cylinder work??
Rich Oliveria
Will be going to La. this next year and mine is leaking a little.
I just put my HPCS system back on – and it works again! I have a 1996 Holiday Rambler Endeavor Diesel. It blew out the seals about a year ago. Power steering fluid filled up the air vent bottle, overflowed and made a nasty mess in the compartment where the system accumulator is mounted. I took it off – two big nuts on each end, two small air tubes, two hydraulic fluid tubes and one electric terminal plug. It took less than an hour but required the help of a cheater pipe, hydraulic jack, big hammer and cold chisel. I boxed and shipped it (UPS, about $40) to Lake Tools Hydraulic Repair in Sulfur, LA after talking to Jess Harper there. It took about 5 weeks or so for them to rebuild it ($900 + shipping back). I bolted it back on, hooked the air and fluid tubes back up and reconnected the electric connector to the trim solenoid. I did have to readjust the cylinder to get the trim to center correctly which took about half an hour. We’re off now on the road for the month of June. Unless I update this later, I can attest that Lake Tools is up to the job. Expensive, but isn’t everything associated with a motor home? You can call Lake Tools and talk to Jess Howard at 337-625-5737. Tom Whitlow
Curious on the pump removal? Why the cheater bar and chisel? Isn’t it just hoses and electrical connection (to remove pump)?
Pump? I removed the actual cylinder that is connected to the steering mechanism underneath the motor home. The big nuts on the bolts on each end which hold the thing on were rusted (20 years old) and took a little effort to break loose.